# The (European) cloud ladder: from virtual server to MS 365

DevFeed: [The (European) cloud ladder: from virtual server to MS 365](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/the-european-cloud-ladder-from-virtual-server-to-ms-365-36557.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://berthub.eu/articles/posts/the-european-cloud-ladder/>)

Published: 2025-03-14T11:00:13Z

Content type: article

Language: en

Sources: [Bert Hubert's writings](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/bert-hubert-s-writings.md>)

Topics: [Cloud](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/cloud.md>), [cloud-infrastructure](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/cloud-infrastructure.md>), [Server](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/server.md>), [Managed Services](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/managed-services.md>), [data](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/data.md>)

Tags: [cloud](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/cloud.md>), [iac](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/iac.md>), [private-cloud](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/private-cloud.md>), [saas](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/saas.md>), [server](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/server.md>), [virtual](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/virtual.md>)

## AI overview

This article explains Europe's dependence on American cloud providers by presenting a cloud ladder, from owning data centers and virtual servers to renting computing power and using managed services such as databases and AI language models. It compares cloud models by considering how much work is outsourced, how much control remains, and the effects on future planning and pricing.

## Source excerpt

We have extensive discussions about our enormous dependence on American clouds, but what exactly are we talking about? And is Europe equally dependent on all types of cloud? This article is aimed at policy makers, but it may also provide some clarity about the broader landscape to actual cloud users. There is also a Dutch version of this page. Cloud in Shapes and Sizes Public cloud, private cloud, IaaS, PaaS, SaaS, IaC, CaaS - what do all these terms mean?